Sunday, August 26, 2012

When you
speak of the ‘two main families’, can you elaborate on that?Which are the two families that are
considered to be the ‘main’ families?

The Christian
family and the Warren-Peu family both have five children each.There are also the Browns and the Youngs and others. Many people are inter-related.

Is there
an airstrip on Pitcairn Island?

No there
is no airstrip. It is such a long way from anywhere else.

A helicopter
came on ship once and took aerial photos. The idea of building an airstrip has
been explored from time to time. There is enough land but whether it would be
suitable or not is not a question I can answer.

Are traditional arts and crafts alive and well on
Pitcairn?

Wooden curio carving is alive and well. Models of the
‘Bounty’, longboats, turtles and fish, a vase with a hand wrapped around it and
the fascinating ‘trick boxes’ with their secret opening are all popular.Islanders sell wooden carved items to cruise
ship passengers plus many have a website that they sell from, posting the items
out to the worldwide customers.Carving
is a very time consuming process.

Weaving is still taking place. Some of the older women
weave frequently.Stripping the
traditional pandanus fronds of their prickly edges is a bit of a mission. The
strips can be dyed to give colour to the woven baskets. Nylon plastic strips
are also used for practical baskets which get used for groceries, vegetables
and fishing.

Paintings done on the large skeleton hattie leaves are
sold to tourists.

Do the islanders prepare any kind of traditional hangi
for special occasions?

No we have not seen this type of Polynesian cooking in
evidence.

Do the islanders have any type of traditional Polynesian dancing?

No this aspect of the culture has not been kept alive.

Do many people go to church?

In 2012 the church services were usually attended by approximately 20
people most Saturdays. Half of these are from the Professional Team which
changes each year.The main service
starts at 11:00 am.There is a class for
children before the service and there is also a bible study for adults
pre-service too.

Are the Seventh Day Adventist beliefs well adhered to on
Pitcairn?

The first thing that strikes you on Pitcairn is that the
weekend here revolves around Friday and Saturday. Saturday is the 'Sabbath'. Sunday is a business day with
the shop, finance office, library, post office and warehouse open. This takes a
bit of getting used to.Saturday is
usually a quieter day. Traditional beliefs of the SDA church are not really adhered
to by the majority.Alcohol is sold at
the shop and also cigarettes. Meat including bacon and pork is eaten. At the
public dinners someone will open the meal with a simple prayer. I would say
that Christian beliefs are important to many of the older generation.

Can you listen to any radio station? If so, which
one? From where?

There is a local channel. With an
appropriate radio you can get overseas channels e.g. BBC.

Is there anywhere you can eat
out on Pitcairn Island?

We eat out at Christians Cafe
when it is open from time to time on a Friday night.When the supply ship is here or when there
are visitors on the island the cafe will be open.It costs $12 for a huge meal which is simple
e.g. a full plate of crumbed fish, chicken, lasagne, roast, hamburger and chips,
salad vegetables etc. They have a small bar there and drinks are a reasonable
price too.

Have you found that you have gained weight on the
Pitcairn Island diet or lost weight?

Some people gain weight,
including us!We walk everyday in an effort to
keep weight off. We go out at about 6:30am and often walk down to the harbour at
the Landing and back before breakfast. It’s much cooler then. In the
winter when it was too dark early in the morning we had to go after school.

To walk from the house to the Landing takes about 25
minutes. Often the road is very muddy and slippery.If this is the case we ride the quad bike to
the start of the concrete road and leave the quad bike there. From there the
road is concreted right down to the Landing and takes about 15 minutes to walk.

It takes about an hour and a half to two hours to walk
around the island. To walk up and over the hill to Tedside takes about 70
minutes and then you can enjoy the little sandy cove there and walk back
again.It makes a very nice outing on a
weekend.

The food on the island tends to be plentiful and high in
calories.The sweet potatoes and bananas
will add weight quickly.If you want to
eat salads with tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber you will need to grown your own.

What about dental check ups?

Get a thorough dental check up
before coming here. There is dental equipment here on the island. From time to
time a visiting dentist will come.It is
usually about every two years.I
have never had to have any dental work done while on the island but others have. They are still alive!

Does the medical clinic carry medications for many basic
ailments?

Yes, it is a very well equipped
clinic. The Medical Clinic opens 9.am on Sunday, Tues and Thurs.
There is no need to make an appointment.The doctorjust stays there until
everybody has called. Phone or radio for Kevin if there is an emergency.
Make sure your Tetanus is up to date before you come.

Have you found
that sores / mosquito bites get infected easily on the island? Fungal infections? Tropical rash?

Mosquitoes bite all the time
when you are in the gardening areas particularly in the early morning and
evening.They are a problem in the
summer months.During May, June, July we
hardly saw any mosquitoes. When you are down at the Landing or swimming etc you
will not see any mosquitoes.The Public
Square area and the Church seem to be some of the worse areas. All of the
government houses have insect screens over the windows. We often eat outside on
the deck overlooking the ocean as we have a nice wooden table set. We light
citronella candles to deter the mosquitoes.

No, we have not had any problem
with fungal infections or tropical rashes.Cuts heal quickly and easily.

Have you experimented with any kind of alternative
mosquito repellent such as tea tree oil mixed with olive oil?

Yes. This seems to work well. We have used 2-3 insect
repellent sticks in the 8 months we have been here.

Have you found that people get the usual colds or flu on
the island?I wondered if with less
exposure to the rest of the world that there might not be as much of that type
of thing?

We have been healthier on Pitcairn Island than we usually
are.I have not seen anyone with a heavy
cold or a cough.After a cruise ship
calls there can be a run of flu symptoms. We get more sleep here.Because the power goes off at 10 pm we go to
sleep earlier than we do in New Zealand. I think this contributes to the deep
rested feeling I have living here. I also think the rich sea air makes you
sleep more deeply. Our diet of fish and vegetables also is healthy. Of course
we can all order sweets and chips and junk food if we choose to. Many of the older residents on Pitcairn are
still very active and healthy.

Can you
swim year round on Pitcairn Island?

I have
not swum from 15th May through until 15th August as these
months were a bit chilly for me. I love to swim and now that it is August I am
swimming again.It is probably a bit
cold for the local adults to swim though.

Do any of the islanders have hairdressing skills?

Yes.Michelle
Christian cuts hair for $10 per cut.You
can also ask her to do streaks etc.Bring your own colouring kit. She does a very good job.

Do you
find the heat a problem?Is it difficult
to sleep at night because it is hot?

Yes in
summer it is hot. We have all the windows in the house open most of the year
around. We also use fans. When we first arrived I found that my hands and feet
were swollen with the heat and it took about 8 weeks to acclimatise. We sleep
just with a sheet over us during the summer and a couple of light blankets in
winter.

Is the humidity a problem?

Yes it can be.Goods can go mouldy quite quickly.Leather goods such as belts and bags go mouldy.As do wooden stirrers and bamboo
placemats.Paper for the photocopier
needs to be kept in a warm cupboard. Even the furniture and couch went mouldy and
the bed often feels damp.We have an
electric blanket which we switch on from time to time to air out the bed and
dry it.

Is the large Galapagos tortoise mentioned in past
Miscellanies still on the island? Have you seen it?

Mrs T, the Galapagos tortoise
lives over at Tedside, and we quite often go over there to search her out and
feed her bananas or melon.Occasionally
she will turn up closer to this side of the island.Randy and Nadine Christian have found her in
their vegetable garden at Flatlands at times and have had to put her on a
trailer and transport her back to her own side. As you travel down to Tedside
there is a fence and a gate that she cannot get through. Because her colouring
is very similar to the colour of the rocks and soil you can walk right past her
without noticing at times.

Are there turtles At Pitcairn
Island?

Sea turtles swim about at the
Landing. You see them from time to time. They are large. They like to steal the
bait off the fishing lines! Sometimes they have to be pulled into shore to have
a hook cut away. Usually the nylon line just gets cut and the metal hook would
rust away in the sea water.

Are rats
/ mice / cockroaches / flies a problem in the houses? If so how do you deal
with it? Are there fruit bats on the island?

There
are many rats on Pitcairn but no mice. Wild cats keep the rats under
control.Most families have several cats
which are fed lean rations at home to keep them keen on rat hunting. We had a
problem with rats running in the ceiling at our house and we were able to get
rat poison blocks which we threw up into the ceiling cavity.This killed the rats in the house. Yes, we
have many cockroaches and earwigs.Earwigs can fly which I have seen on a few occasions. There are some flies.
Chicken runs and compost areas tend to attract flies. Insect screens keep them
out of the government houses. No there are no bats on Pitcairn. Insect life is
prolific here. Geckoes, lizards and skinks are numerous.You see hundreds of them. Gecko droppings
need to be wiped up from window sills etc. Soldier crabs lurk in dark corners too. Ant are also a big problem in summer and you need to keep food in plastic sealed containers.

Are
there any wild domestic animals on the island?

There
are many wild cats, chickens and roosters and also numerous wild goats. All the
wild animals look extremely healthy.The
wild chickens usually look healthier than the caged ones, probably because
there are so many insects. The wild goats are culled regularly by the animal
control person. They are shot.

How does
the cat population stay under control?

This is
a tricky one. Our pet cat recently had five kittens.They are no homes to be found for surplus
cats as all households have as many cats as they require already.We only allowed two of the kittens to
live.The others were killed minutes
after they were born. The male kittens can be de-sexed by Shirley Young.The females will go on to breed again and
again.At times all kittens are killed
at birth.Advice from a vet was that
contraception pills for female cats nearly always results in cancer of the
uterus developing in the cat. So it is time for us to put aside our city-born
scruples and take charge of the problem.Personally I would find it difficult to kill a newborn kitten but
thankfully others are not so squeamish.

Do you ever go out in the long boat to visit a passing ship and go on board?

The teacher does not usually
get out often as the cruise ships call during school time. However many
islanders and some members of the Professional Team do. It depends on the boat
and how many extras are allowed. You might get a chance to go out on fishing
trips in the Longboat, which usually happens on public holidays.

Have you had opportunities to go around the island in a
boat?

To make sure that the longboats
are ship-shape, the crews will take them for a run around the island every
month or so...anybody who wants to can go along for the ride. When visitors are
transported back to the Claymore for their return trip, there is always extra
room for anyone who wants a ride.

Was transferring from the ship into the long boat very difficult? Did you worry about falling or misjudging your "jump"?

We had to climb down a rope
ladder from the Saga Ruby. It
was about 3 or 4 metres. Prior to this it was good to practise on some of the
metal ladders up on the deck. It is important to remember to move your hands
down as you move your feet down, so that you don't end up stretched out. Keep
your hands at chest level. It wasn't too scary. There are always big strong
people in the long boat and as it rises up they will tell you to jump and you
must jump precisely when they tell you. It’s not very far only about a metre or
so! Many people lose their balance when they land in the longboat but hands
will reach out to steady you. The greatest danger is slipping between the
longboat and the side of the ship. It would be easy to get your leg or ankle
trapped and crushed.

Are life jackets worn in the
longboat?

No. Life jackets were not
offered.The longboat does not carry
many lifejackets. However we bought our own from New Zealand and on
occasions when it is rough we choose to wear them.

Do the islanders still sing “In
the Sweet Bye and Bye” when they are in the longboats departing from a ship?

No.You would not hear the song above the noise
of the motor.This song is still sung
often but usually on board the cruise ship before transferring to the long
boat. It is not the Pitcairn National Anthem but it is kind of like the theme
song.

Are any of the longboats still
made from wood? Are any still rowed?

No, they are not made from
wood. The two longboats in use are made from heavy duty aluminium.The hull is probably about 2-3 cm thick. The
deck is plywood which can be lifted up to store things underneath. They do not
have seats.Travellers sit straight down
onto the deck.No, they are not
rowed.I have seen no evidence of oars
or rowlocks. There is one old wooden longboat from yesteryear on display in a
shed.

Do the Islanders invite you or your husband to go out in
the small fishing boats to catch fish?

Not all islanders go fishing,
and as you can imagine, pulling a 50kg yellow fin tuna into a small boat on a
hand line, is not everybody's idea of fun! The action is fast and
furious.If you are keen to have a go, Vaine
Peu will welcome an extra person to share the costs of fuel for the boat and he
is usually very successful with his fishing. Vaine’s fishing trips
usually take about 3 -4 hours and you can feel a bit queasy with the swell. I
have never seen the ocean completely flat here.Occasionally it is smooth but there is always the swell.

Do you ever get crayfish or other seafood in shells?

Yes both Randy Christian and
Dave Brown have wire baskets for catching lobsters. They then keep the lobsters
in the cages in the sea and feed them. They
sell lobsters to cruise boats and they will sell locally too. The cost of one
crayfish is very reasonable here, approximately NZ $12 – 15 dollars. I think the local lobsters are more like
Moreton Bay Bugs than NZ crayfish. They do not have long spindly legs but
rather they have stubby paddle like legs which they use to bury themselves in
the sand. There are no shellfish.

When you order your groceries is it possible to order in
softer frozen goods such as frozen peas that would thaw reasonably quickly?

Yes any frozen goods can be
ordered, even ice cream. They are in a freezer on the supply boat and they are
the first things unloaded.

Do you order in cheese or butter from New Zealand? If so, is it still in reasonable condition when you get it?

Yes it is fine. Once we receive our
butter, I usually cut it into portions, wrap it in gladwrap and store it in the
freezer.

Do you use powdered milk?

Yes. I mix up just enough for
the day every morning.Because the power
goes off every night at 10 pm the fridge is not working overnight I find that
milk tends to go sour quickly if I mix too much. Many people buy the long
lifeUHT milk as well.

Did you place a food order while you were still in New Zealand so that it would be there for you when you arrived?

Unfortunately for the school
teacher the first freight will not arrive until the supply ship the Claymore arrives in March/April!
This is exactly what happens to every teacher. You arrive
early...via cruise boat...so you can start the school year, but all your food
and clothes do not get here until a month later! All the others from the
Professional Team will make sure that you are comfortable, just bring the maximum
allowable weight in clothes for the flights here plus any resources that you
want to start with. Buy food from the general store in the meantime.

When packing to go to Pitcairn did you pack your goods
into cardboard boxes?

You need to consider your
packing very carefully.The boxes you
use will be stored and re-used when you depart. We purchased uniform sized
boxes from a packaging company so they were mostly all the same size. It
doesn't matter how many boxes you have, so go for two light ones rather than
one heavy one. We also bought a roll of shrink wrap plastic and wrapped each
box.For books and documents it is a
good idea to line the inside of the box with a large black plastic rubbish
bag.Items do get wet from time to time
when in transit. The shipping containers sit on the deck of the Claymore supply
ship.They are supposed to be water
tight but I have seen a number that leaked badly. Some people use plastic
warehouse boxes. Cardboard boxes do have the advantage of being able to be
disassembled and flattened for the duration of your time on Pitcairn.

You will need to type out a
manifest.Number and list every box.
Make sure it is addressed clearly.On
your manifest list the contents. Bring plenty of used plastic supermarket bags
and these can be stuffed down into small crevices.They are so useful once here. Pack you boxes
tightly so that items do not roll around inside.

Did all of your goods arrive in safe condition?

Yes

Does the size and weight of the boxes matter?

No, but remember they are manhandled from the container to
bike trailers on island.

Is it
out of the question to bring a bicycle to Pitcairn? A kayak?

If you
bring a bicycle to Pitcairn make sure it is a robust mountain bike.Pack it well for the journey on the supply
ship. The hills here are very steep for bike riding. Adamstown has
approximately 1 km of concrete roading.This is relatively easy to ride on. Some people have kayaks. You need to
exercise great caution about suitable days to go out kayaking. Recently Doctor
Kevin and Sharon Donovan kayaked around Pitcairn Island in their quality
inflatable double kayak.If you tip out
it is not easy to get back in and there are very few places where it would be
advisable to try and come ashore on the treacherous coastline.

Mostly
the New Zealand dollar is used.However
American dollars are also common. At the general store most of us book up our
groceries on an account which we pay at the end of the month.In New Zealand we always carried cash around
in a wallet.Here we seldom do.

Do you have hot water in your house?

A few houses have a solar hot water system.The school teacher’s house is one of these
and this supplies hot water to the bathroom but not the kitchen. The solar hot
water panels are extremely efficient and there is usually hot water even after
three days of no sun. All houses have a system of boiling the water in a copper
drum in a shed out the back.It has a
fire underneath it. Islanders refer to ‘burning the copper’ which means heating
the water. It is not difficult to find firewood. Early in the morning there is
the smell of wood smoke in the air.It
does not linger long in the ocean breezes and is quite pleasant. Our house has
a bath in it but we seldom use it.Most
of the time the daily temperatures are too hot to sit in a hot bath.Also we are always careful to conserve our
precious water in our tank and we tend to use a lot less in the shower.

What is a ‘duncan’?

A ‘duncan’ is a long drop toilet. All government houses
have indoor flush toilets.Many
islanders have flush toilets too.Because water can be a problem in times of drought, many houses have
retained their traditional long drop toilet and use it when flushing is not a
good option as it uses too much water.Around the island there are long drop duncans at all the strategic
places.They are kept clean and are
maintained nicely with toilet paper. Most have a system of collecting water into
a plastic drum and a tap for washing hands.Soap is provided.Some of the
duncans have two seats so if you wanted you could chat with a friends at the
same time!Personally I don’t have any
friends that are that close!

Do cell
phones work on Pitcairn Island?

No, cell
phones do not work on Pitcairn. When we go out we carry the two way radio with
us.This works in a similar way to a
cell phone and all public messages get sent out on this. All households are linked by radio. Yachts that come to the island make contact
via this radio system as well.If you
want your conversations to be totally private it is best to use the telephone.

Can you watch TV?

There are two channels available.One channel from Tahiti in French Polynesia, which
is all in French.We enjoyed the
Olympics on this channel even if we could not understand what they were saying.
The other channel is FOX news which tends to be all political stuff about
President Obana at present.

Is there
any kind of general video/DVD library on the island?

The
library needs a good overhaul.There is
plenty of good modern reading material.but it desperately needs its own room and system for relaxed browsing.Maybe if the proposal for the Community
Centre at the dis-used prison goes ahead there will be a new library. DVDs are
popular and many people take them out. You write your name in an exercise book
and cross it off when you return it.Donations
of DVDs are always welcome but hey must be compatible with NZ systems.

When the
electricity goes off at 10.00pm do you have the use of a lantern of any sort? I
guess you have to start watching a movie early if you want to see the end of
it?

Most
houses have an alternative 12 volt battery system for lighting after 10 pm so
no we do not use lanterns. Yes we do need to calculate how long a movie will
play and start watching at a time that allows it to finish before the 10 pm
power goes off.

Are your emails out totally private? Is there
an island server?

Yes our emails are private.
There are several servers - in NZ. Hawaii and England I think. The satellite
link is locked in a shed and the Mayor is the IT person and currently has to be
supervised by the Gov Rep or policeman.

Is it correct that phone calls from Auckland to Pitcairn are like a local call?

Yes we are on the Auckland
Exchange.Toll calls are very reasonable
but internet is very expensive.Our
monthly bill is usually in the hundreds of dollars.

Is the
telephone system dependent on there being power? i.e. can you ring New Zealand when
the power is off?

No the
telephone system is not dependent on the power being on.You can ring any time. Telephones work
though the Auckland exchange.To ring NZ
number you dial 00649........... Calls cost 15 cents per minute. When an
incoming call comes in you can tell if it is a toll call as it has two rings
close together.One ring means a local
Pticairn call.

Do the
water tanks at the houses ever get cleaned out?

I have
not seen or heard of this.It would be a
good idea from time to time to do this.

Do you
lock the doors of your house?

It is
not necessary to lock the doors of your house here.We tend to though, as our cat has the knack
of jumping up and opening the door by herself! She’s a smart cat but then she
does not close it behind herself and the mosquitoes can then get in.When cruise ships call we are also advised to
lock our homes as it is not unusual for curious wandering souls to walk right in
and make themselves at home in your house when you are not there! Cheeky but
true.

Breadfruit grows in the summer months and can be
harvested until May. Bananas are prolific and there are different varieties.
The islanders grow sweet potatoes.All
islanders have vegetable gardens and grow the usual crops such as pumpkins,
cabbages, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers etc. Small pineapple gardens are seen
around the island.Limes and mandarins
grow here too. Fruits include prolific coconuts, pawpaw and many pasionfruit vines.

Do islanders still process sugar cane and arrowroot
flour?

I have heard that they do this as a community project
occasionally.As yet this year they have
not done it in the eight months that I have lived here. I suspect that two
traditional crops such as sugar cane for making molasses and arrowroot for
making arrowroot flour will slowly die out as it becomes more convenient to
order flour and sugar on the supply ship. Many households have containers of
molasses in their cupboards and make sticky popcorn balls as a treat to sell on
market days.

Do you
buy fruit and vegetables from the locals?

Once a
month there is a market day at the Public Square.This is an opportunity to buy and sell
surplus vegetables and fruit.Visiting
yachtsmen can arrange to buy a box of vegetables and freshly baked homemade
bread.

What can
you buy at Market Days?

Market
days are like an open air flea market.It is held in the public square. Anyone can buy and sell surplus goods
of any type. Used clothing and household items, vegetables, fresh fish, eggs,
clothing etc are all sold here.There is
an atmosphere a bit like a school fair.Usually the big barbeque will be fired up by the men and fish and chips
are cooked and sold.A plateful is NZ
$6.00

Is the soil heavy and hard to dig?Do you have a hose?

The soil is volcanic.At the top of the island there are many gardens maintained by the
islanders. Yes it can be difficult to dig. I have dug extra sand and seaweed
into my vegetable garden and mulched it to keep moisture in. The soil around the
school house is heavy clay. Yes, we have a hose but we use tank water
sparingly.In the hot dry times we save
the water from the shower and washing machine to use on the plants.

As the Miscellany editor I get lots of letters and emails
from people.Many of the questions I get
asked are similar to the kind of questions we asked when we were thinking of
coming to live here. I thought that some
of the readers would be very interested in the answers too. I have grouped the
questions and answers into various categories and the next few entries on this
blog refer to them.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Spring is definitely here.There has been a flurry of baby animals born.It is common to see new born baby wild goats
when out walking.The huge banyon trees
have new green leaves.The mango trees
are laden with blossoms.Mosquitoes are
re-emerging after a quiet couple of months with no mosquito repellent
needed.Temperatures have been getting
up in the mid twenties. Between 15th May
and 15th August I have not swum in Bounty Bay but now I have started
swimming again.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Paul and I have made the decision to leave Pitcairn Island at the end of
this year. We will not take up the option of renewing our teaching contract for
another year. This will mean the new postings on this blog will carry on only
until the end of the year.

Many people out there in the world have a completely idealistic view of life
here on Pitcairn. The Miscellany newsletter
only portrays the positive aspects of life here and so it is not a true and
accurate reflection of this community at all. Pitcairn Island community has all the usual
ups and downs of a tiny isolated community, plus some extra factors as well.

Paul and I have enrolled in a course in Bangkok Thailand beginning on 6th
January 2013. Our course is a YWAM course called "Children at Risk".
The course will have an academic component and also a practical aspect of
working out in the community with children in slum areas.

We will begin a completely new blog for our next adventures. The purpose of this blog was to inform family
and friends of what it is like to live on Pitcairn Island and to show all the
various aspects of the island.We looked
for up to date information like this about Pitcairn before we came.Maybe this Blogspot will help others who
travel here.

I have appreciated all the feedback and comments.So far there have been 5936 page views so
someone somewhere is reading all these postings.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Cooking Lessons
At Pulau School there are just eight children that come from only two families.They are spread in ages from 5 – 13 years.This term I (Ruth) have been bringing the
eight of them up to our house to cook once a week.Each child has formed a recipe book from a
school exercise book and divided it into sections.We are aiming to make something from every
section.Last week we made Lemon Honey
which is like a creamy lemon jam to put on bread.It was delicious.Today we made a Chow Mein with minced
beef.By the end of each lesson my
kitchen is sticky and the floor needs a wash.But we are all having a good time and the children are learning valuable
skills.

Method
Melt the butter
and sugar.
Add eggs and lemons.
Use a microwave or double boiler to cook
this.
Boil until thick. If cooking in the microwave put it in for 10
minutes
then remove and stir and then microwave for a further 10 minutes for
a
thick lemon honey.
Store it in the fridge. This can be made in bulk and
frozen until you
are ready to use it.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Dr Kevin Donovan has begun teaching a First Aid refresher
course.We have had the first session on
Sunday 5th August with twelve people attending.Of these twelve, seven were from the
professional team and just four were resident islanders.In New Zealand a refresher First Aid course
costs more than $100 and yet this course is offered for free. We are lucky to have such a capable doctor on
the island at present.

Pitcairn Island has a well resourced Health Centre.The current doctor is Kevin Donovan who came
here to Pitcairn Island in 2011 to complete a one year contract with his wife
Sharon.The Pitcairn Island Government
finds it difficult to recruit a suitably qualified doctor.Doctor Kevin Donovan will be replaced by
Doctor Peter Carden in September this year. Peter and his wife Maria have lived
and worked on Pitcairn Island before.

Reception area

Doctor Kevin Donovan

The Health Centre has an x-ray machine and a room that is
kept at a cool temperature for storing the medicines.There is all the usual surgery equipment and dental
facilities.In terms of waiting lists
and availability to be seen, Pitcairn Island provides better services than you
get back in New Zealand.

Aerial view of Health Centre

When I applied for the job of coming here to Pitcairn Island
as a school teacher one of my first questions at our interview was “Is there a
doctor on Pitcairn Island?” When we lived in a remote area of the Highlands of
Papua New Guinea I had a burst appendix and peritonitis set in.I nearly lost my life as Paul did all he
could to evacuate me to safety.From
that point on I have not wanted to risk living in an area with no health
facilities.

Monday, August 6, 2012

It seems that one of the buildings of Pitcairn Island’s
empty prison may get a new lease of life if the current proposal for a
Community Cultural Centre goes ahead.The prison is a substantial building close to the main hub of Adamstown.At present it sits behind the high fence neglected
by all.Chickens and children squeeze through
the gap in the gate and gather the fruit that is wasting on the tress within
the confines.

Passionfruit now grows over the gate

A document outlining possible uses for the prison complex
has been created by the tourism co-ordinator and distributed to the residents
of Pitcairn Island.Comments and
feedback from the community are welcome.A craft market, library, sailing club and community meeting room are all
put forward as being legitimate uses for the deserted building.

The dining room would become a craft market area

Disused existing bedrooms would become the new library, sailing club, community meeting room

When visiting yachties arrive they could use the sailing
club facilities for relaxing, laundry and internet. The craft market could be used as a
semi-permanent set up for locally made crafts and products such as honey.

The lower building is the one proposed for use

These ideas are all in the planning stages and will be put
to council for consideration.